It took Teresa’s Next Door less than a year to go from just another new bar to pop up on restaurant row in Wayne (known to locals as ‘The Avenue”) to a must stop for any beer drinker who also appreciates good food and a social atmosphere. This award-winning restaurant (Best of Philly 2008: Best Beer Bar) with 24 rotating beers on tap is gaining a cult following with an established group of regularly pleased patrons. And it’s not through luck. Chef and Owner Andy Dickerson has done a great job in hiring and training a knowledgeable and friendly staff, which AML has quietly confirmed on many recent visits to the one-room cafe, which is somehow both cavernous and cozy.
The speedy success of Teresa’s Next Door (a.k.a. The Main Line’s ‘Monks’) since their June 2007 opening is in the details—the obvious and the subtle. Their “no tv” approach is a hit despite being centered in an area that lives and dies by its sports teams. The bar was packed on Saturday September 27th with dozens of diners enjoying the drunken mussels (an AML favorite and recommended entreé) as the Phillies clinched the NL East title. And if you don’t feel like you are strolling into a café on a busy side street in Brugge when you walk in the door and bear right (Teresa’s Italian Café and BYOB is to the left), you either have never been to Belgium or you can’t appreciate great taste. The pristine, perfectly lit 78-seat bistro was heavily researched and planned over two years ago by Dickerson and his business partner Mike Ellis.

In December of 2006, Dickerson, Ellis and a group of friends enjoyed a ten day beer tour of Belgium as part of their meticulous planning. Additional research confirmed that the western suburbs of Philadelphia were in need and want of an upscale Belgium-inspired experience. When they returned, they set the business plan in motion. After partnering with the area’s resident beer expert and owner of Wayne’s Beer Yard (www.beeryard.com), Matt Guyer, TND never looked back “A lot of people have made comments to us from the very beginning they are so glad not to have to drive downtown, deal with the traffic, pay for parking–all that money, time and effort–to find a great Belgian restaurant. So, that is rewarding because we felt that is exactly what the suburbs were missing. We have about fifteen percent return patrons a week and as well as a ton of foot traffic. It’s appealing especially to everyone lucky enough to be in walking distance to downtown Wayne,” Dickerson beams.

Main Line Tap Room, Teresa’s Next Door

With its two dozen drafts, over 100 bottles in stock, and monthly events and specials (see below), TND meets the standards of the most demanding beer lover. Add Dickerson’s unpredictable but likeable beer options, and the crowds and brews are, without fail, flowing. “Our whole mentality with the beer has worked. We set up the taps with half Belgium and half American with one English and one German and then keep rotating everything. This has been a very popular approach. Every tap represents a unique style of beer so even though we are constantly changing the kegs, the styles remain consistent at the tap with very few exceptions. So, we are speaking to someone’s particular (beer) palate but providing variety. And this keeps our clientele interested, keeps them coming back so they never get bored.” The most predictable part of the restaurant’s philosophy has been an ongoing schedule of beer dinners. Their Tasty Tuesday’s have been a big hit where TND diners can expect six to eight different food and beer pairings for a great value. AML attended a jam packed Allagash dinner with Rob Todd in late June and Dickerson promises there are many more unique nights to come.

To provide a true feel for their sophistication of choices, Dickerson emails me a mid-September tap menu that demonstrate the variety they are faithfully committed. It boasts its hand pumps “on the cask” with Weyerbacher Hops Infusion IPA and Victory Hop Devil (Downingtown). The English selection for this round of kegs includes the Philadelphia Brewing Co. Walt Wit (“mellow, creamy mouth-feel and hints of unmalted wheat, citrus and spice upfront…”), Weyerbacher Alpha’s Belgian Pale Ale (“Soft, malty notes of apricot, banana and pear set the stage for a spicy yeast character”) and many more. On the Belgian side, TND included a full bodied, strong dark ale in Delirium’s Nocturnum (“Flavors of dark candi sugar, toasted caramel and mild peppery spice flow together into a symphony of placid sweetness”) and a light-bodied Liefmans Kriek (“Fruit Lambic. Strong aromas of candied cherry lead to a flavor that is much more subdued cherry fruit balanced by tartness and a touch of lambic funk”). According to FND’s biographical beer list, Kriekbier is brewed only once per year by adding whole pitted cherries to six month old brown ale base (same as in Goudenband) and barrel aged for two more years creating beer with complexity and depth. In addition, the draft list promises upcoming Green Flash IPA, Rodenbach Grand Cru, De Ranke Guldenberg, Summit Octoberfest, Corsendonk Brown and Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale.

With the steady flux of restaurants and pubs coming in and out of the Main Line, its evident Teresa’s Next Door has carved out a successful niche and hit an easy, steady stride. In addition to the bevy of bottles of beer on the wall, Dickerson also emphasizes that TND has a comprehensive selection of wines and a very popular cheese menu for those customers who want options. All in all, the best part of the TND experience is Dickerson’s vision in bringing the region a great pour of European excellence to our own backyard.

Teresa’s Café and Teresa’s Next Door are located at 124-126 North Wayne Avenue in Wayne, PA. TND is open Monday thru Thursday 4pm-1am, Friday and Saturday 11:30am-1am and Sunday 11am-3pm for brunch. Sunday dinner is from 3-11pm. Their website is pending. For more information you can contact the front desk at 610-293-0119.

Events Upcoming @ Teresa’s Next Door

Chimay Anniversary party celebrating 25 years in the US.
Wednesday October 8th 7-10pm
A Chimay rep will be telling stories, answering questions and giving away over 100 collector glasses to those buying Chimay that evening and handing out pens, bottle openers, etc.
Teresa’s Next Door is one of forty select accounts in the nation to be chosen for this event and one of only four in the Philly region and the only one in the suburbs.

Early November 2008 (Date TBD)
Dogfishead Beer Dinner
Teresa’s Next Door we will be hosting a Dogfishead Beer Dinner, featuring over eight rare and strange brews including but not limited to: World Wide Stout, ImmortAle, Palo Santo, Burton Baton, Midas Touch, Red and White, Blue and Black. Stay tuned to www.aroundmainline.com
as your trusted beer lover’s local resource for more details coming soon!

Please bring any allergy, dietary or vegetarian need to the attention of your server
Items may be served raw or under cooked. Consuming raw or undercooked animal products
can increase your risk of food-borne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.